As long as they can chose between military or non-military service I would like to see mandatory national service for all young people, no exemptions.

As long you get to choice the kind of service I am sure you would have learned from the experience. Perhaps you could volunteer to be on the Vodacom Bulls medical staff.

I also agree that the ones it help the most are likely to be the ones who would object the most, use their parents money and influence to get out of serving.

Youth service may be good, I find a lot of young people really don’t know what to do with their lives right after school, so they may travel the world or something, which is really good, but it would probably be better for them to contribute to society in some way like with a service program, although I must be honest, I’m glad they didn’t have one for me!

youth service – we already have that, called enlisting in the military. I was 17.

That is not to say i have never been on a bed that vibrated though

Would hate to see a National military service return to my country.

Love the idea of a national Service (to the community) being introduced doing various charity work. (maybe building homes for the homeless perhaps?)

The only real problem i see with it though is that the ones who NEED it most are always the ones who have ways of getting out of it. (our leaders’ kids and those who are likely to grow up and become our leaders/politicians/CEO’s etc.)

If we are to have one it should be universal. No exemptions.

Otherwise it might as well stay voluntary as now – we are free to undertake any voluntary services.

Even if there is a level of ‘forcing’ the less educated and well off into military service through lack of alternatives that offer the same pay.

<B